Hitchcock, who turned 87 in February, was elected to the board in 2003. He has also served on the Water and Sewer Commission for 10 years and the board of Otter Valley Union High School.

“I certainly think he’s been one of the giants on the board in the sense of good judgment, very keen intellect and solid life experience in the business world,” Town Manager John Haverstock said Thursday. “So I think all of that has made him a very valuable member of the Select Board and the Water and Sewer Commission.”

A Pittsford native, Hitchcock served as a second lieutenant in the 11th Airborne Division during World War II. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1952 with a degree in agricultural engineering. After teaching at UVM for a year, he spent five years with General Electric as a design engineer and then worked 24 years at Xerox, where he was director of technical service.

Hitchcock retired to his farm in New York before returning to his hometown. His farming expertise garnered him recognition for his work in conservation farming. He has been credited with rebuilding the dearly defunct Vermont Beef Producers’ Association and reinvigorating local cattle sales.

Two years ago the town report was dedicated to Hitchcock and the late Bernard McMahon Jr., who served as a volunteer firefighter for 34 years.

“Since returning to Pittsford in 1988, Allen has participated vigorously in its public life. He has worked nine years as chair of the Otter Valley Union High School Board where he was an advocate of innovation,” the report read. “He has served for five years so far on Pittsford’s Select Board, where he has balanced the need to economize with the desire to improve town services.”